Card camera



1,s2s;sos May 3,1921. L WL'HSH CARD Filed Sept. 1925, 3 Sheets-She 1 W.I... FISH CARD CAIBRA Filed Sept. 1 1925 s Sheets-Shut 2.,........wnun-nnnuvnnuunnnnw May 3,1927. w. L. FISH CARD CAMERA FiledSept. 9, 1925 3 Shoots-:Shget 3 iii Patented -Ma'y 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM LAFAYETTE FISH, OF POMPTON PLAINS, N EW JERSEY.

CARD CAMERA.

Application filed September This invention relates particularly to thattype of camera which may be loaded with a pack or plurality ofsensitized cards or films in daylight and which is provided with meansfor substantially instantaneously developing the cards or lilms afterexposure thereof and at the place of the exposure.

Une object of the invention is to provide a holder or case for aplurality of sensitized cards or lihns, whereby the pack of cards orfilms may be inserted into the camera in daylight without the use of afabric sleeve which is common in the art and attached to the camera forinsertion of the arm of the operator to exclude light from the camerawhile the lilm pack is being inserted into the camera.

Another object is to provide a camera of the general character describedincluding novel and improved means for ejecting the cards or filmsseparately from the pack after exposure and into a developing tank.

A further object is to provide a camera embodying a novel and improvedcombination of a holder for a plurality or pack of sensitized cards orfilms, a developing tank for developing the cards or films afterexposure thereof, and means for ejecting the cards or films from theholder one at a time after each exposure and directly into the saiddeveloping tank, whereby each card or him may be removed from the packand deposited in the developing receptacle and an unexposed card or filmpositioned in proper relation to the lens of the camera in one and thesame operation and without opening the camera.

Other objects are to provide such a camera including a casing to whichis removably zuitached a developing tank having a card or film receivingopening and which is provided w ch a card or film holder which dis posesthe cards cdgewise in alinement with the receiving opening of the tank,with means for moving the card or film edgewise from the holder throughthe receiving opening of the tank; to provide novel and improved meansfor automatically opening and ClUSlD the receiving opening of thedeveloping tank to receive acard or film after exposture and to normallyprevent entrance of light into the camera casing; to provide novel andimproved means for indicating the number of cards or films which havebeen exposed; to provide a camera of the character described enibodyingnovel and imie, 1925. Serial No. 57,352.

proved details of construction whereby the camera is simple andinexpensive, and easy to operate, and to obtain other results andadvantages as may be brought out by the,

following description. Referring to the accompanying drawing, in whichthe same reference characters designate corresponding and like partsthroughout the several views,

Figure l is a side elevation of a card camera embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the camerawith portions broken away to eliminate unnecessary details;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View, taken on the line 33 of Figure2;

Figure a is a similar view, taken on the line 4-et of Figure 2 Figure 5is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View, taken on the line55 of Figure at;

Figure 6 is a composite fragmentary perspective View of the developingtank and its cover;

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the camera with the cover removed toshow the card or film holder;

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional View, taken on the line 88of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the card holder and cardejector, and

Figure 10 is a detached perspective view of the card-counting dial.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thereference character A designates the casing of the camera which may beof any suitable construction, preferably rectangular in configuration,and having at one end the lens and shutter actuating mechanism B ofknown construction. Preferably, the opposite end of the camera isprovided with a removable cover C to permit access to the interior ofthe camera, particularly for inserting sensitized cards or films. Thecamera may or may not be con structed for mounting upon a tripod orother support I), as may be desired.

One important feature of the invention is the card or film holder E forholding a plurality of cards or films F in packed or superposedrelation, both for transporting or shipping purposes and for supportingthe cards or films in proper relation to the lens of the camera. Thiscase or holder is shown his as comprising a box-like body 1 which may beformed of metal having one end thereol open, as at The edges of thelongitudinal. sides of the body 1 are inturned, as at 3, and the end ofthe body opposite the open end is formed with a plurality of spacedinturned tongues 4-. The cards or films F may thus be arranged in packedrelation and slipped longitudinally into the body through the open end2, the int-urned flanges 3 and tongues t preventing displacement oi? thecards th ough the open top oi": the box. For mainnir r the cards orlilms in closely packed l and in engagement with the flanges tongues afollower plate 5 havingtongues (3 is interposed between the 1 1 card andthe bottom oi the box 1, as iearly shown in Figures 2 and 9. In packingtililms lor shipment or sale, an opaque card or plate is placed at thetop of the pack to close the open side of the box and exclude light fromthe films, light beingexeluded hour the films at the open end of the boxby the tightly packed relation oi the cards or films. When the cards arepacked in the box 1, the edges oi" the top card are c: posed between thetongues for cooperation with a card ejectingmechanism hereinaiterdescribed.

The card holder E is removably supported within the camera in properrelation to the lens, preferably by a frame which comprises two spacedand parallel side pieces 7 secured at their ends, as at 8, to the topand bottom of the camera easing. A transverse card holder supporting bar9 is fixedly secured to and between the side pieces 7, as clearly shownin Figures 2 and '7. Each of the side pieces T is also formed at itslongitudinal edge next to the lens with spaced and parallel inturnedflanges 10 and 11 against which the front of the card holder E isadapted to abut. The card holder is applied to the camera by placing theopen end 2 thereof upon the transverse bar 9 with the front of the box 1bearing against the flanges 10. The card holder E and the bar 9 are sorelated that the lower edge of the top card F in the holder projectsbeyond the corresponding edge of the bar, as clearly shown in Figure 2.and preferably the opposite edge of the bar 9 is pro ided with cars 12for holding; the lower edge of the card holder against rearwarddisplacement.

The upper end of the card holder E is preferably held against rearwardmovement by releasable clamping mechanism. which may include a pair ofarms 13 pivotally connected to ears 1% stamped up from a bracket 15fixedly secured to the top of the camera casing by any suitable means.such as the rivet 16. The arms 13 may be resiliently held in contactwith the card holder E by means of a spring 17 also secured to thecasing by the rivet 16. For releasing the a rms 13 from the a rd holder1 may provide a linger piece 18. One convenient manner oi constructingthe arms 13 and finger piece in is to form them oi a single piece oi rodor heavy wire bent to the I'ttlllil'ttl shape. as c-early shown inFigure '1'. The ends oi the r :d may also be pivotally mounted in theside pieces '1', as indi *ated at 19. Obviously, to place a card holderin in the camera, the finger piece 18 is lifted upwardly to swing thearms 13 in the same direction, after which the open end of the cardholder is placed upon the bar 9 and the holder pressed against theflanges 11. The linger piece 18 is then released, whereupon the spring17 iorees the arms 13 against the card holder, as shown in Figure inaccordance with the invention, the cards are separately ejected irointhe card holder l i into a developing; tank. As shown on the drawings, atank 20 oi any desired coniiguratimi but preferably diamond shape incross-section, removably secured to the I he pack r E through throughslots in ti e ends o and bearing upon roilers 'l being fixedlyconi'iecled naled transversely oi the camera casing any suitable manner.The ejector L! 1.i il'ornied at its edge adjacrni the card with aplurality oi lugs holi. disposed in s:

.ccs hetwern ti o stantial registry with til i tongues .r on the cardoldm: box i. The "d ejector normai positioned above the top of the cardholder E. as shown Figure 2, and Obviously when the shaft is rotated inone direction, the ejector he slid do vnwardly in the n ideway; 2 E thatthe lugs 28 engage the upper edge oi the top card 1, whereby said cardis U edgewise from the card holder and the reeei in; openi g ll of the dielo tank. Upon rotation oi the sl opposite direction, the card eiscto..42 is 1" turned to its normal position. To preven' more than one ca dfrom being ejected one time, a rubber seat 2:) 'rured to the bar 9 sothat its edw'e .sli ch overlies the lower edge 01'. the top card thecard h lder E and ilrictionally en rrar side of said card with wipuaction to revent the next adjacent card irom inov wilh the top ca d.

Any suitable means may be uti 'zc rotating the shaft J, but in the pr .1stance T have shown the shaft projertinp through the side wall of thecamera casing Liv and having fixedly connected thereto an operatinglever 30, oscillation of which is limited by means of a segmental stopplate 31.

It is desirable to provide means exteriorly oi the camera casing toindicate the number of cards which have been exposed and ejected intothe developing tank, so that the operator may know when the supply ofcards or films in the holder E becomes exhausted. F or this purpose, Ihave provided a dial plate 32 fixedly connected to the operating lever30 and having a series of spring tongues stamped up and projecting fromone side thereof, and another series of spring tongues 34 stamped up andprojecting from the opposite side of the plate. The tongues are adaptedto spring into and out out a notch 35 in a stop plate 36, while thetongues 33 are arranged to cooperate with a lug 37 on the operatinglever 30. The tongues and 34s are alternately arrangedcircum'lierentially of the plate 32, and one of the tongues :n isnormally positioned within the notch 35. Upon movement of the operatinglever 80 to rotate the shaft 27 in the direction to eject a card fromthe holder E, the dial plate 32 is held against rotation by the tongue34 in the slot 35 and the lug 87 slips over the tongues 33. lVhen thelever is moved in the opposite direction, the lu 3:-

positively engages one oi? the tongues 33 and forcibly dislodges thetongue 3% from the notch and rotates the dial plate until the nextadjacent tongue 34: snaps into the notch 35. The tongues 33 and 3a areso spaced on the plate 32 that the said plate is rotated a distanceequal to the distance be tween the tongues 8i, and preferably there area number of tongues corresponding to the number of cards F in the holderE when the latter is full. The tongues 23% may be numbered, as indicatedat 38, so that the number on the ton gue which is positioned on thenotch 35 will indicate the num er oi cards which have been exposed andejected from the holder E.

.t is desirable to provide means for normally closing the receivingopening 21 of the developing tank 20 so that light may not enter thecamera and destroy the top card when the developing tank 20 is removed,Accordingly, I may provide a closure slide 40 having a slot L1 adaptedto "ster with the receiving opening 21, said slide being mounted by ascrew and slot connection 42 on a bearing plate 43 secured to the bottomof the camera casing. The closure slide a0 is normally positioned toclose the receiving opening 21, as shown in Fig e 2, by a tension spring14;, and the slide formed with upwardly projecting arms -l5 to bearagainst the underside of the transse card holder support to prevent theiroin moving laterally away from the receiving opening 21 of the tank soso as to permit light to enter the camera. A bell crank lever 46 ispivotally mounted at 417 on the bearing plate 4L8 with one arm incontact with one end of the cover slide 40 and the other arm in contactwith an actuating rod 48. The rod 4:8 is slidably mounted in bearings 49and 50 carried by the hearing plate 43 and secured to the camera casing,respectively, and one edge of the rod 48 is formed with a notch 51 tocooperate with an arm 460 of the bell crank lever to which is in contactwith the rod ib. One of the ejector operating arms 24 is provided with alateral projection 52 having a pin and slot connection 53 with one endof the actuating rod 48, as shown in Figures 3, a and 5. Obviously, thebell crank lever so will be influenced to maintain contact with theactuating rod -l8 by the spring set, and when the card ejector 22 is atits normal position, the arm oi the hell crank lever is in engagementwith the notch 51, and the closure slide 40 cioses the receiving opening2i or the developing tank 20. As the shaft 27 is rotated to eject a cardfrom the holder E, the actuating rod do is longitudinally moved in thedirection or the arrow on Figure 3, whereby the arm 4-60 or the bellcrank lever 46 is forced out of the notch 51 so as to oscillate thelever to and push the closure slide a0 against the influence oi thespring is to open the developing tank receiving opening 21, as shown inFigure Upon rotation of the shaft 2? in the direction to return the cardejector to its normal position, the actuating rod 4L8 is moved in theopposite direction to that above described, whereupon the arm L of thebell crank lever &6 again snaps into the notch :31 under the influenceof the spring which lso returns the closure slide it) to its closedposition, as shown in Figures 2 and o. will be noted that thisparticular construction provides for opening operation 01 the closureslide 40 in just suilicient time to accommodate the ejected card F, sothat a minimum distance of movement for the ejected card is possible anda minimum or space required for arrangement or the parts.

The developing tank 20 may be detachably connected to the camera casingin any suitable manner, but in the present instance I have shown a plate5% fixedly secured in the bottom of the camera casing to receive theopen end of the developing tank 20, said frame having projections orrecesses to cooperate with recesses or projections at respectively, forsecuring the tank 20 to the camera, and having the card receivingopening 21 therein.

While I have shown and described camera embodying certain details ofconstruction, it will be understood that this is primarily for thepurpose of illustrating the principles of the invention, and that manymodifications and changes mzvv be made in the details of construction ofthe device without departing from the spirit or scope. of the invention.l hereilore I do not desire to he understood as limiting myself exceptrequired by the following claims when construed in the light of theprior art.

Having l claim is:

l. in a camera, the combination with a (a, g having a lens, ol a lramewithin said casing comprising a pair of spaced and parallel side pieceseach having an inturned tie at its longitudinal edge adjacent said l atranwerse bar. a holder for resupporting a light sensitive card. I plateopposite said lens so that said mov le edgewise from said holder,removahlv supported on bar ot said Frame and l'i-eart ,al tlanges.releasahle mean, for said card holder against said flanges, cle fordeveloping liquid to receive directl trom said holder, and an operablefrom the exterior of said casing to e: e one edge o't said. card film orplate lide it C(iQQWlf-iC from said ,1 i d receptacle. In a camera, thecombination with a o irvina lens, ot holder for releasa light sensitivecard. film id casi if opposite said lens mo able edgewise from i a framefor rcinovablv support- 1 1 holder comprising a pair of spaced ,llelside pieces each having at its longitudinal edge a pair of spaced andpar- 40 allel flanges, a receptacle to receive said card or lilmedgewise oirectlv from said holder, an ejector to engage one edge ofsaid card or film and movable in guidewavs formed by said spacedflanges, and means operable from the exterior of said casing foractuatsaid ejector to slide said card or film said holder into saidreceptacle. 5-. in a camera, the coi'nbination with a casing having alens, oi a holder for releasablv supporting a light sensitive card. filmor plate within said casing opposite said lens so that said card ismovable edgewise from said holder, a receptacle to receive said card orfilm edgewise directly from said holder, Us guidcwavs disposed atopposite sides of id holder, an ejector movable in said guideways toengage one edge of said card or film, a rotatable shaft journaled withinsaid casing, a pair of arms on said shat't operatively connected to saidejector to move the same in said guidewa rs upon rotation of said shaft,and means exterior of said casing for rotating said shaft.

T. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a lens. of a holderfor a pack Unis-described the invention, what of light sensitive fihnsor 'ards comprising a box having an open top with int-urned flanges attwo opposite edges and at one end with he opposite end ope and a springfollower interptx-ted between the bottom oi? said box and the bottomcard or film of said pack to normally influence said cards or filmstoward said flanges, the first-mentioned end oi said b0 being i rmedwith notches to expose the corresponding edge of the top card or film. areceptacle to receive said cards or films (meat :1 time edgewisedirectly from the open end of said box, means for sliding said card fromsaid holder one at a time into raid receptacle including a part to entersaid notches and-en go the edge ol the top card or film, and means 'loroperating the lastnientioned means from the exterior of said casing.

5. Ina camera, the combination with a casing having a lens, of a holderfor releasahlv supportng a light sensitive n'iedium within said casingopposite said lens, a receptacle secured to said casing exteriorlythereof to receive said sensitive medium direct from said holder, saidcasing having an opening con'm'iunicating with said receptacle, meansoperable from the exterior of said casing for removing said medium fromsaid holder and depositing it in said receptacle, and means for normallyclosing said opening in said casing and operable automatically to opensaid opening substantiall simultaneously with the removal of said senivemedium from said holder.

6. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a lens, of a holderfor re leasably supporting a plurality of light sensitive cards or filmsin packed relation within said camera opposite said lens so that saidcards or iihns are movable edgewise from said holder, a receptaclesecured to said casing exterior-iv thereof to receive said cards orfilms, said casing having an opening communicati with said receptacle todirect said cards or films edgewise one at a time into said receptacle,means operable "from the exterior of said casing for sliding said cardsor films edgewise one at a time from said holder into said receptacle,and means for normally closing said opening in said casing and operableautomatically to open said opening substantially simultaneously with theremoval of said sensitive medium from said holder.

7. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a lens, of a holderfor releasably supporting a light sensitive card or film within saidcasing opposite said lens so that said card is movable edgewise fromsaid holder, a receptacle secured to said casing exteriorly thereof toreceive said cards or films, said casing having an opening communicatingwith said receptacle to direct said cards or films edgewise one at atime into ill said receptacle, guideways disposed at opposite sides ofsaid holder, an ejector movable in said guideways to engage one edge ofsaid card or film, a rotatable shaft journaled within said casing, apair of arms on said shaft (merativcly connected to said ejector to movethe same in said guidoways upon rotation o'li' said shaft, meansexterior of said casing for rotating said shaft, means normally closingsaid opening in said casing, and an operative connection between saidclosing means and said shaft for opening said closing meanssubstantially simultaneously with the ejection of said card or film fromsaid holder.

8. A holder for a pack of light sensitive films or cards comprising abox having an open top with inturned flanges at two opposite edges andatone end with the opposite end open, anda spring follower interposedbetween the bottom of said box and the bottom card or film of said packto normally influence said cards or films toward said flanges, thefirst-mentioned end of said box being formed with notches to expose thecorresponding edge of the top card or film.

9. In a camera, the combination with a casing having a lens, of a holderfor releasably supporting a light sensitive medium within said casingopposite said lens, a receptacle secured to said casing exteriorlythereof to receive said sensitive medium direct from said holder, saidcasing having an opening communicating with said receptacle, meansoperable from the exterior of said casing for removing said medium fromsaid holder and depositing it in said receptacle, a closure slide forclosing said opening, a spring for normally influencing said slide intoposition to open said opening means normally holding said slide againstmovement under influence of said spring, and means operableautomatically substan tially simultaneously with the removal of saidsensitive medium 'lron'i said holder to release said holding;- means.

10. In a camera. the con'ibination with a casing having a lens, of aholder for releasably supporting a light sensitive card or film withinsaid casing opposite said lens so that said card is movable edgewisefrom said holder, a receptacle secured to said casing exteriorly thereofto receive said cards or films, said casing having an openingcommunicating with said receptacle to direct said cards or filmsedgewise one at a time into said receptacle, gnideways disposed atopposite sides of said holder, an ejector movable in said guideways toengage one edge of said card or film, a rotatable shaft journaled withinsaid casing, a pair of arms on said shaft operatively connected to saidejector to move the same in said guideways upon rotation of said shaft,means exterior of said casing for rotating said shaft, a closure slidefor closing said opening, a spring for normally influencing said slideinto position to open said opening, means normally holding said slideagainst movement under influence of said spring, and an operativeconnection between the last-mentioned means and said shaft to actuatesaid last-mentioned means to release said closure slide into openposition substantially simultaneously with the ejection of said card orfilm from said holder.

WILLIAM LAFAYETTE FISH.

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